What Happens if the State Bores the Jury to Sleep - A Defense Attorney's View - Video
Watch Jack’s Interview on Court TV
Some criminal cases have a lot of complicated facts and it can take a prosecutor a long time to introduce them all to a jury. Sometimes, the cases are relatively simple factually but the prosecutor may struggle to get the facts in. As a criminal defense attorney, I have watched prosecutors on both ends of the spectrum. In fact, I was a prosecutor and remember being in this position. If you are facing serious criminal charges in Minnesota, it is important to sit down with an experienced Minnesota criminal defense attorney to discuss the best way to approach either scenario. Understanding how to handle it could make all of the difference.
"If a prosecutor is struggling with complex facts in front of a jury, that is their problem. If a jury doesn't understand it, sit back and enjoy the show."
Jack Rice is a St. Paul, MN based criminal defense attorney who appears on Court TV with Judge Ashley Willcott and Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney Josh Schiffer to discuss trial strategy, trial tactics and how to approach these kinds of cases from the legal trenches. Sometimes, this is about explaining complex issues. Sometimes, it is about throwing shade at the State's case when it doesn't make sense.
"If the State is boring and the jury stops listening, and it can happen, let em. This is an opportunity for the Defense to take advantage of those opportunities. Don't let them slip by."
The State has the burden to prove each and every element of every charge. Most importantly, the jury must be able to understand and absorb the prosecutor's arguments. If they don't or cannot, then the State has failed. This is their burden, their job, their requirement. It is about facts but making sure the jury understands them is the most important of all.
Jack Rice is a former prosecutor, a former CIA Officer, and a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. He is also the Founder of Jack Rice Defense, a boutique criminal defense firm located in St. Paul, MN. Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free confidential consultation or call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339.